Direkt – Atipic Lab 008

Since launching two years ago, Atipic's "LAB" series of EPs has played host to some of Romania's finest minimal and tech-house talents, including Cosmjn, Arapu and Floog. The latest to showcase his wares via an EP on the series is Direkt, a rising star on the Romanian underground with previous releases on Botanic Minds, Vivus and Abduction to his name. A-side "JJJ" is probably the pick of a pretty strong bunch. Hypnotic, groovy and blessed with an inherent sense of movement, the track includes some particularly punchy percussion, spacey motifs and the most subtle of background acid lines. Elsewhere, "Liquid" is a brighter and breezier chunk of ear-catching tech-house funk, while "End Credits" is deeper, woozier and clearly best appreciated in dark rooms at six in the morning.